Sweet Pool is a Japanese BL horror visual novel developed by Nitro+CHiRAL. It originally released on December 19, 2008 and was released outside Japan on December 19, 2018.
Synopsis
The plot follows Youji Sakiyama, a student who returns to high school after a year’s absence due to illness. He starts developing weird symptoms, like meat chunks coming out his body and hallucinations of blood and flesh. Around the same time, his phlegmatic classmate Tetsuo and the infamous student Zenya take an interest in him.
Characters
- Sakiyama Youji (崎山 蓉司)
- Voiced by: Wataru Hatano
- Shironuma Tetsuo (城沼 哲雄)
- Voiced by: Yoshihiki Kawahara
- Okinaga Zenya (翁長 善弥)
- Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa
- Mita Makoto (三田 睦)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Kishio
- Kamiya Takehiko (上屋 武彦)
- Voiced by: Kōji Yusa
- Kitani Kouhei (姫谷 浩平)
- Voiced by: Hideyuki Umezu
- Okinaga Kunihito (翁長 邦仁)
- Voiced by: Yōsuke Akimoto
- Serizawa Erika (芹沢 枝里香)
- Voiced by: Mami Ozaki
Gameplay
Sweet Pool is a homoerotic horror visual novel with a branching storyline. Most of the game is spend reading dialogue and monologue, accompanied with character sprites and background visuals. Unlike most visual novels, Sweet Pool doesn’t make use of dialogue options, instead players are forced to choose between “instinct” or “reason” at certain moments of the game. Depending on what the player chooses, the game will develop in one of six possible endings.
Release
Sweet Pool released in Japan on December 19, 2008 for Microsoft Windows. A remastered version released on May 25, 2018 in a package edition and on July 27, 2018 as a download edition. A PlayStation Vita port of the game to celebrate its tenth anniversary was published by Dramatic Create, a brand of HuneX, on May 31, 2018.
On Anime Expo 2018, JAST USA announced they would be bringing BL titles to the west under their JAST Blue brand, with their first game being Sweet Pool. Before the launch of the full game, JAST USA released a demo on Steam. The English-language release came out on December 19, 2018 on JAST USA’s store and as a censored version on Steam. A paid DLC patch for the Steam version, to readd the 18+ content of the game, released separately on JAST USA’s store.
Related media
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Mayu Kurumazaki started serializing in Be x Boy GOLD on August 28, 2009. Viz Media released the manga in English digitally under their BL-imprint SuBLime in 2012.
Volumes
Novel
A novelization written by Shinobu Kuriki released on October 19, 2011. The story is told from the perspective of Tetsuo.
Stage
A theatrical adaptation written by Hiroki Uchida and directed by Norihito Nakayashiki was performed at The Galaxy Theatre from March 12, 2022 until March 21, 2022.
References
External links
- Official website
- sweet pool at The Visual Novel Database
Source: Wikipedia – Sweet Pool
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Put under the Gamer24h team's microscope, Sweet Pool raises the bar considerably with both its storytelling and technical polish. Developer NITRO CHiRAL has done a remarkable job of drawing players into its world, earning our admiration with its attention to detail. Masterfully blending BL game, visual novel, horror mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. In short, an outstanding and immersive gaming experience awaits genre fans — we highly recommend giving it a shot!